Raymond Ernest Michel Braine (28 April 1907 – 24 December 1978) was a Belgianfootballstriker.[1] He was also the first Belgian professional player, when he obtained a transfer to Sparta Prague in 1930. Braine played in 54 matches for the Belgium national football team and scored 26 times, making him Belgium's 5th top all-time scorer.
His first club was Beerschot in Antwerp. Braine made his Belgian Championship debut on 11 February 1923 against Daring Club de Bruxelles (lost 3-0). He scored 4 times in 4 appearances that season and Beerschot finished second. Raymond's brother, Pierre, was also part of the team. The next year, Braine obtained his first trophy by earning a Championship title. Three more titles followed in 1925, 1926 and 1928. He was also part of Belgium's team at the 1928 Summer Olympics.[2]
At the time, the Belgian football was not a professional club. However, certain players did receive money (unofficially) based on performance. Some other players supplemented their incomes by opening cafés. At one point the Belgian Football Association published a paper stating: "Considering it is important to stop the progression of player-café owners, the executive Committee takes the decision that at this day, except for a player whose parents ran the café for more than 5 years, the authorisation to open a café will be subordinated to the condition that the player will not be a part of the first team."
Braine, who just opened a café in December 1929, decided to go and play abroad. His first attempt was in England with London side Clapton Orient, but he could not obtain a work permit. He signed a lucrative contract in 1930 with Sparta Prague and subsequently became the first Belgian professional player. With Sparta, Braine won Czechoslovak First League titles in 1932 and 1936, as well as 1935's Mitropa Cup.[1] He finished as top scorer twice with Sparta Prague.
Before the 1934 World Cup, Braine had received an offer of 100,000 Koruna from the Czechoslovak FA to become a citizen of Czechoslovakia which he refused. Afterwards, Czechoslovakia lost the final game to Italy. He came back to Beerschot in 1937 and won the Championship twice again. This time, he played in the 1938 World Cup.
In 1943, Braine was transferred to C.S. La Forestoise as a defender for one season, a team that had just been promoted the year before to the first division, because of the War.
^ abcJeřábek, Luboš (2007). Ceský a ceskoslovenský fotbal - lexikon osobností a klubu (in Czech). Prague: Grada Publishing. p. 25. ISBN978-80-247-1656-5.
^"Raymond Braine". Olympedia. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
^"IFFHS' Century Elections | Europe - Player of the Century".
^"IFFHS All Time Belgium Dream Team". www.iffhs.com. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
External linksedit
List of Czechoslovakia championship top scorers
January 01, 1970
raymond, braine, confused, with, brain, raymond, ernest, michel, braine, april, 1907, december, 1978, belgian, football, striker, also, first, belgian, professional, player, when, obtained, transfer, sparta, prague, 1930, braine, played, matches, belgium, nati. Not to be confused with Ray Brain Raymond Ernest Michel Braine 28 April 1907 24 December 1978 was a Belgian football striker 1 He was also the first Belgian professional player when he obtained a transfer to Sparta Prague in 1930 Braine played in 54 matches for the Belgium national football team and scored 26 times making him Belgium s 5th top all time scorer Raymond BrainePersonal informationFull nameRaymond Ernest Michel BraineDate of birth 1907 04 28 28 April 1907Place of birthAntwerp BelgiumDate of death24 December 1978 1978 12 24 aged 71 Place of deathAntwerp BelgiumPosition s StrikerSenior career YearsTeamApps Gls 1922 1930Beerschot VAC142 141 1930 1936Sparta Prague106 120 1936 1943Beerschot VAC113 69 1943 1944La Forestoise21 0 International career1925 1939Belgium54 26 Club domestic league appearances and goals Contents 1 Career highlights 2 Honours 2 1 Club 2 1 1 Beerschot VAC 3 2 1 2 Sparta Prague 2 2 Individual 3 References 4 External linksCareer highlights editHis first club was Beerschot in Antwerp Braine made his Belgian Championship debut on 11 February 1923 against Daring Club de Bruxelles lost 3 0 He scored 4 times in 4 appearances that season and Beerschot finished second Raymond s brother Pierre was also part of the team The next year Braine obtained his first trophy by earning a Championship title Three more titles followed in 1925 1926 and 1928 He was also part of Belgium s team at the 1928 Summer Olympics 2 At the time the Belgian football was not a professional club However certain players did receive money unofficially based on performance Some other players supplemented their incomes by opening cafes At one point the Belgian Football Association published a paper stating Considering it is important to stop the progression of player cafe owners the executive Committee takes the decision that at this day except for a player whose parents ran the cafe for more than 5 years the authorisation to open a cafe will be subordinated to the condition that the player will not be a part of the first team Braine who just opened a cafe in December 1929 decided to go and play abroad His first attempt was in England with London side Clapton Orient but he could not obtain a work permit He signed a lucrative contract in 1930 with Sparta Prague and subsequently became the first Belgian professional player With Sparta Braine won Czechoslovak First League titles in 1932 and 1936 as well as 1935 s Mitropa Cup 1 He finished as top scorer twice with Sparta Prague Before the 1934 World Cup Braine had received an offer of 100 000 Koruna from the Czechoslovak FA to become a citizen of Czechoslovakia which he refused Afterwards Czechoslovakia lost the final game to Italy He came back to Beerschot in 1937 and won the Championship twice again This time he played in the 1938 World Cup In 1943 Braine was transferred to C S La Forestoise as a defender for one season a team that had just been promoted the year before to the first division because of the War Honours editClub edit Beerschot VAC 3 edit Belgian First Division 1923 24 1924 25 1925 26 1927 28 1937 38 1938 39 Sparta Prague edit Czechoslovak First League 1931 32 1935 36 1 Mitropa Cup 1935 4 Individual edit Belgian First Division top scorer 1927 28 35 goals 1928 29 30 goals 5 Czechoslovak First League top scorer 1931 32 16 goals 1933 34 18 goals 6 Belgian Golden Shoe of the 20th Century 1995 7th place 7 IFFHS Europe Player of the Century nomination 2000 8 IFFHS All Time Belgium Dream Team 2021 9 References edit a b c Jerabek Lubos 2007 Cesky a ceskoslovensky fotbal lexikon osobnosti a klubu in Czech Prague Grada Publishing p 25 ISBN 978 80 247 1656 5 Raymond Braine Olympedia Retrieved 13 September 2021 Beerschot Palmares Mitropa Cup 1935 Beerschot Geschiedenis Czechoslovakia List of Topscorers Soulier d or belge du 20eme siecle IFFHS Century Elections Europe Player of the Century IFFHS All Time Belgium Dream Team www iffhs com Retrieved 16 January 2022 External links editList of Czechoslovakia championship top scorers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Raymond Braine amp oldid 1164099305, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
